A Novel Circulating microRNA Signature Panel as a Prognostic Biomarker for in Patients with Colorectal Cancer

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Molecular Biology
• Biomarker Discovery

Background:

• Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major global health concern, driving the need for effective prognostic biomarkers.
• Circulating microRNAs (miRs) offer a promising avenue for non-invasive cancer detection and prognosis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and validate a signature panel of circulating miRs for accurate colorectal cancer prognosis.
• To evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic potential of specific miRs in CRC patients.

Main Methods:

• A two-stage study involving 225 subjects (150 CRC patients, 75 controls).
• Expression analysis of 25 selected miRs using quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR).
• Serum miRNA extraction, quantification, and quality assessment via NanoDrop.

Main Results:

• Eight serum miRs (Let-7c, miR-21, miR-26a, miR-26b, miR-126, miR-146a, miR-223, miR-374) were significantly elevated in CRC patients.
• Combined analysis of five miRs achieved an AUC of 0.97, and a combination of miR-21, miR-26a, and miR-26b reached an AUC of 0.974.
• Computational analysis implicated CCND1 and TP53, regulated by let-7a-5p, as dual efficacy and prognostic biomarkers.

Conclusions:

• A novel circulating miRs signature panel was established for precise prognosis prediction in Egyptian CRC patients.
• This miRNA signature panel demonstrates superior prognostic accuracy compared to individual miRs.
• The findings support enhanced patient screening and personalized treatment approaches for CRC.